YOUNG people are to be offered cash for their green ideas. Students and employees under 25 who create an outstanding business environmental project before August 2003 could be in line for a £500 reward.

This is one of several major changes to the Environment Awards for Kent Business, now in their eighth year. Five awards of £500 are on offer to young people under 25 on July 31 who identify and deliver a high-quality project or activity.

Another innovation includes an award for the most outstanding individual achievement. The 2002 awards were launched at Cooling Castle Barn, near Rochester. Nearly 100 people attended the event hosted by television presenter Carol Barnes, even though it coincided with the Queen Mother's funeral.

Ms Barnes was a late replacement for Fiona Bruce who was involved in the BBC's coverage of the occasion. The awards launch ceremony, starting at 11.30am, opened with two minutes silence as a mark of respect to the Queen Mother. Officials at Kent County Council, a joint sponsor of the awards, had considered postponing the launch but went ahead after a straw poll found that guests were happy to attend in spite of the clash of events.

Alan McKendrick, chief executive of Aylesford Newsprint, the other joint sponsor, said the launch was happening in "Dickens country". The distinguished local author had highlighted the appalling conditions of workers in industrial Britain.

"Undoubtedly working conditions have improved since his day, but the threats to the environment are probably more insidious now," he said. "In our eighth year of sponsorship, we don't want companies to be complacent. We want companies to fight to improve the environment and we will reward those efforts."

Mr McKendrick said: "These awards show that Kent businesses are committed to sustainable best practice, they are prepared to take responsibility for their environmental impacts while remaining profitable and competitive." It was vital to increase local recycling and find new uses for an estimated additional 77,000 tonnes of domestic and commercial waste generated in Kent and Medway.